Safety Show goes to Brisbane next

Practical workplace health and safety answers in the form of products, services and advice drew thousands of visitors to Safety In Action and Melbourne Materials Handling last week.

Three acres of safety solutions dealing with challenges as diverse as asbestos, fire-fighting, warehouse storage and even cholesterol were on show at Victoria's largest dedicated OHS event. 

Alongside the products and services on offer was a series of seminars for show-goers keen to understand the new workplace health and safety laws due to be adopted from January 1 next year. An estimated 1,700 visitors attended the first day's seminars alone, which featured architect of the new laws, Barry Sherriff; the body overseeing their introduction, Safe Work Australia's Julia Collins; and the Australian Industry Group's Carol Bullivant.

The popularity of the seminars has prompted show organisers to run a similar program at the Queensland Safety Show, which runs from June 21 to 23 at the Brisbane Convention Exhibition Centre.

"The new laws are only months away now and experts like Barry Sherriff are warning that time is running out to implement new protocols," says show organiser, Marie Kinsella of Australian Exhibitions & Conferences.

Among the new releases at Melbourne Materials Handling was dock automation software from Leda Security that allows logistics centres to book and manage trucks much like airport traffic control.

If the truck and door is fitted with RFID, “Dockbrain” permits trucks entry within the specified visiting window and only at the nominated door to alleviate queuing. For enhanced OHS, Dockbrain can manage opening and closing of equipment in sequence. Leda Security’s Tom Rozsa says Dockbrain’s launch at Melbourne Materials Handling surprised many visitors.

Queensland Materials Handling and Queensland Manufacturing Show will be held from June 21 to 23 at the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre. Safety In Action and Melbourne Materials Handling return to the Melbourne Exhibition Centre next year from April 17 to 19.